A Secret Unleashed - Chapter 3
Title: A Secret Unleashed
Author: eleflowerpot
Fandom: Hanson
Pairings: Taylor/ Zac, Isaac/ OFC
Summary: Third instalment of the ‘Secret’ series
Warnings: Some content may be adult
Isaac’s POV
The drive was treacherous. Why the hell were we getting weather like this in November?! I drove faster than I should. The streets were strewn with tree branches and trash cans amongst other assorted debris. It took all my concentration to avoid it, well, it should have done. I couldn’t help thinking about seeing Louisa so unexpectedly. We’d parted awkwardly on my birthday, she’d come to say goodbye when I was still in tears. I’d mumbled something about being emotional about the gift, all the memories it’d brought back. She’d said nothing, just nodded and looked as sad as I’d felt. Then she’d left. If only I’d been able to say something, to articulate how I was feeling, the depth of the sorrow without her was worse than I’d ever imagined it could be. I loved her, I needed her…I needed to tell her.
I found myself at Zoe’s school before I could think any more of how I could rectify what I’d done. As Louisa had said, I found my youngest sister looking frightened, tears streaked down her face. Her eyes brightened immediately on seeing my car and she bounded towards it, the relief clear to see. As she jumped into the front seat she wrapped her arms around me, pulling me into an unexpected and somewhat awkward hug, only releasing me when I coughed slightly. She sat back and smiled sheepishly,
“I’m just glad you’re here in one piece, we’ve been listening to the radio and there’ve been loads of accidents.” Her concern for me lifted my mood and we began our substantial drive to our parents’ house. The journey passed in silence, Zoe not wanting to distract me from focussing on the road, I on the other hand not wanting to talk about trivialities when all I had on my mind was how I could ever begin to apologise to Louisa for my behaviour.
It was completely dark by the time we pulled up in the driveway, the howl of the winds only slightly less than when I’d begun my journey. I could see my mother’s anxious face pressed against the kitchen window, intently waiting for our return. We made our way to the door, struggling against the power of the wind as it tried to force us in the opposite direction. As we entered the warmth of the house I felt my muscles begin to relax, I’d been unaware how tense I’d been, obviously subconsciously worried about the journey. Mom busied herself, fussing over Zoe, ensuring she’d suffered no ill effects. I made my way to the kitchen to make myself a coffee, a hit of caffeine was in order before I contemplated driving myself home. My eyes had become heavier as the heat of the house ingrained itself in my body. As I waited for the water to boil I heard my mom frantically wittering on the phone. I rubbed my temples trying to relieve the stress, all I wanted to do was go home and go to sleep, forgetting everything that was playing on my mind. Tomorrow was a new day, tomorrow I would figure out exactly how I could get her to forgive me. As the kettle boiled and I poured the steaming liquid into my mug I heard my mother enter the room. Turning to face her as I replaced the kettle, a look of horror and panic etched on her face.
“Mom, what’s wrong?”
“That was Ezra on the phone, they’re still on their own…Louisa hasn’t turned up.” Her words hit me like a sledgehammer, she’d set off just after me…she should have gotten there ages ago. I was unable to utter any words, just stood open mouthed, running through the possible scenarios in my mind.
“You need to go, you need to find her. I’ll ring Zac and get him and Kate to go and look after the kids.” As she spoke I was already moving towards the door, my heart pounding loudly as adrenaline coursed through my body. I still didn’t speak, just headed out to my car, hearing a faint ‘be careful’ over the wind I eventually turned and raised my hand as an acknowledgment.
I headed straight to the studio first, wanting to be sure she’d actually left, conscious of the fact that as I’d left earlier Taylor had still been there with her. I gripped the wheel tighter as the hatred I’d buried for him came back with a vengeance. He was the cause of our pain, him and him alone. As I pulled into a parking space I felt a smidgen of relief when I saw no other cars and the lights of the studio off. I entered nonetheless, wanting to pursue every possible option. The studio was empty, our instruments left exactly as we’d abandoned them. Pulling my phone from my pocket I dialled her number, praying she’d got a puncture or broken down and was on foot to Taylor’s. As it continued to ring I realised what a stupid notion that was. Louisa was the most organised person I’d ever met. If something like that’d happened she’d have rung mom, anyone…everyone. I ended the call, bile rising from my stomach as I contemplated the worst. Returning to my car I headed along the route I knew she would’ve taken.